Chapter 136 Regi Simon Says

Ash, Serena, and Lillie find Zero at the counter this time, and they are surprised to see him.

Zero: Ash. Uh, for whatever it's worth, I'm glad you got through that mess at Labradorra. And all the stuff after it... It feels weird to know that the reason so many weird things had to happen to us just... no longer exists, but...It's better this way, I guess.

Ash: I guess so, but you should take it easy, Zero.

Zero: Uh, look, I'm not here to embarrass myself by rambling at you forever again! There's Legendaries running amok out there, right? We're both here to help get that mess under control, right? Let's focus on those! I've got a report here about, uhh... Somewhere around Route 2, looks like a gate opened up. No damage or strange Pokémon reported yet, but with one of those things appear, it's only a matter of time. Uh, so, should I mark you down for the case?

Serena: Sure.

Zero: You got it, boss. Remember, it's around Route 2. I think I heard something about it being in a cave? Oh, and also, I think one of the people who live nearby already went in to check it out. So, uh, don't be surprised if you run into them or something. That'll be about it.

Ash and the others are confused a little, but they decide to check out the Gate in Route 2. And they find the gate in the same cave where Ash captured his Salandit. After getting inside, they find two giant walls that are written in Braille.

Ash: Okay...now it is the Regis I assume...

Lillie: Are those Braille?

Serena: That sure is weird...

Then they find Amaria in front of the wall, so they decide to greet her.

Amaria: Oh, it's you! I heard you eloped with Lin, but you decided to come back after all?

Ash: Yeah.

Amaria: That's amazing. You're here to help out with this now too, right? Here, look. These tablets are just covered in braille. I was originally going to try and deal with this myself since it's right by my house, but... Trying to translate this much text manually is just useless...I've been here for a while already and hardly made any progress.

Ash: I see...

Amaria: Frankly, I'm about ready to throw in the towel. I think our best bet is to find someone who's already familiar with braille, but... The only person I've heard of who was blind was the old guy in the Elite 4, and no one's heard from him since Lin disappeared.

Lillie: She's talking about Elias?

Serena: I guess so.

Amaria: We'll probably have to find someone else, but I have no idea who... I don't suppose you know anyone else who might be able to translate this, do you? For now, I think I'll just head back. Maybe I'll see if there's something else Tania and I can help with. (Leaves) Bye for now.

After Amaria leaves, Ash suddenly realizes that there is a person who can help them out, so they get out of the New World and head back to Coral Ward, finding Danielle in her apartment.

Danielle: Pardon me? You're asking if I can read braille? Just because I'm blind? Don't you think that's stereotyping a bit too much? Do you think all blind people are just born knowing braille? Do you think something like that is easy to learn? Just pick up a book and translate a few sentences to solve a puzzle in a video game or something?

Ash: We're sorry if we offended you like that...

Danielle: Well, you're right. It is easy, and of course, I know braille- I'm not a troglodyte. Tell me what you need, and be frank about it.

Lillie: We have found some tablets filled with Braille in the newly formed dimension, and we really need your help.

Danielle: Braille tablets in a newly formed dimension? This sounds like a reasonable and believable story. And what makes you think that this neo-dimensional braille of yours, assuming I choose to believe you, even translates to a known spoken language? You didn't think about that, did you?

Ash: We just thought -

Danielle: Right. Well, let's go see your allegedly newly-spawned braille blocks ourselves, shall we? I use the term "see" loosely, of course. So tell me the way and I'll go there myself. I detest hand-holding. In fact, I'm sure I'll beat you there. Ta.

Ash and the others give Danielle the directions and then go to the New World, and Danielle is already there, much to their surprise.

Danielle: My, what kept you? I've more or less just about finished going over the whole bit. Fortunately for you, this does translate to our language after all. Isn't that convenient? Now, there is the matter of how to go about acting on the information listed here... You see, that tablet over there describes how in order to open the way forward, an actor must perform a certain ritual. And this tablet here lists the actions necessary for said ritual.

Lillie: So what is the ritual said?

Danielle: While I could simply tell you what's listed here... Don't you think it's a bit dehumanizing to go about fetching a disabled person just for the sake of serving as a tool of transliteration? I suppose you wouldn't. But I, for one, am discontent to play a passive, intermediary role in all this. So, here's what we're going to do. I trust you are familiar with the game "Simon Says"?

Ash: I know this game.

Danielle: You say that, but the last time I translated for someone, they said they knew it and then forgot the entire point of the game. If I don't specifically say "Simon Says", you don't do the thing, remember. But if you get that, then you get where I'm going with this. So, we will play this game as I read you the instructions for the ritual. Surely you, a perfectly-sighted person, can't possibly fail something as rudimentary as this, right? Now, talk to me again when you're ready to begin.

Then they decide to start the game and hope that it isn't too difficult.

Danielle: Shall we get started? After all, I do so love tormenting people with games- I mean, playing games with people.

Ash knows that this girl is really serious about giving them a hard time, but they really need to do this.

Danielle: Now go stand over there, in that middle area. Then we'll begin.

Game: Simon says take one step right. Simon says face downward. Simon says take one step down and two steps left. Now go up the stairs. Simon says go up three paces. Simon says touch the rock. Again. Simon says take one step right and two steps up. Simon says face down again. And now face up.

Serena decides to do the puzzle as she manages to do what Simon says, and much to their surprise, a door just appears.

Danielle: Oh, so it wasn't all poppycock. Color me surprised. Well, I don't expect you to thank me, and I have no intention of congratulating you, so run along now.

After running through the door, they are surprised to see Regirock, Regice, and Registeel glowing, and just like before six Pokemon come to them and fight. But much to their surprise, the first Pokemon is Stakataka.

Lillie: Even Ultra Beasts are here to battle us?

Ash goes for Hitmontop to battle the Stakataka and defeats it. The second Pokemon is Tyranitar, which is using the Z Move Black Hole Eclipse, but it is also defeated by Hitmontop as well. The third Pokemon is Mawile, and it has Mega Evolved, but Mawile is defeated when Ash goes with the Mega Houndoom. After the three of them are gone, the next three are the Regis, not the ones that are glowing. Ash goes for Blaziken and Chesnaught, defeating all three Regis in the end.

With the glowing gone, the three Regi suddenly flee, much to their surprise.

Serena: I thought we are going to capture those three...

Ash: But I guess we need to chase after them. There are three paths, let's go to Regirock first.

They decide to head southwest first, and they find another tablet with Braille, and there is a field with rocks and Strength Boulders on it.

Danielle: So there were more, after all. Of course, I already knew that, but I wouldn't want to rob you of your feeling of discovery. Never say I'm not generous. Now, step back. I'll read this and tell you when I'm ready.

After a while of reading it, Danielle has a feeling about what it says.

Danielle: All right, I've got it. Ready when you are.

Game: Simon says take one step down and two steps left. Simon says push the grey rock right one space. Simon says stand directly below the center stone. Simon says push the brown rock up one space. Simon says touch the tallest rock. Simon says push both boulders towards the center stone. Now move the grey stone up one space and right one space. Move the brown rock to the opposite side of the center stone. Then push the grey rock right one space and down one space. Simon says stand below the center stone and touch it.

After Serena manages to do the move, the gate opens again.

Danielle: Oh, so you did it after all. What a shame. Well, go on now.

After getting into the door, Ash finds Regirock and captures the Pokemon, so they are going to Regice next, and they also find an ice puzzle with the Braille Tablets.

Danielle: Another, right? What would you do without me? Now, stand aside and be useless for a moment again while I read this. (Reads the Braille) All done. Talk to me when you're ready.

Lillie: So what does it say?

Danielle: This one's the most convoluted of the lot. I pride myself on being at least a little bit of a sass bucket, but I'm not going to tease you over this one. Simon Says is on hold; you can solve this on your own time. Let me explain. The key points are the cracks in the ice. All five need to be broken, and there are specific directions you need to slide in when doing so, But we don't know the correct order to break them in. If you break one sliding in the wrong direction, it's a failure. If you step on an already broken spot, it's a failure. The correct order is...Left, Right, Left, Up, Right. Five slides in those directions, each one breaking the ice.

Then they decide to move the puzzle, after it's done, the door opens.

Danielle: That's out of the way then. These rituals are so picky... And you said this dimension was only created recently? Not likely judging by the feel of this stone- But what do I know, I'm just a blind girl who likes to pick on people and complain.

Ash: You're right about that...

Then they get into the door and capture the Regice. Once it is captured, they go to the last puzzle, this time there are a lot of levers and the Braille tablets.

Danielle: And again. Any more of these and I should start charging you. I won't- but I could. So you'd better be nice to me, or something. Anyway, you know the drill. Move. (Reads the tablets) Done. This one should be no problem. Whenever you're ready.

Serena: Let me guess, another Simon Says?

Danielle: Ready for another riveting game of Simon Says? ...You know, now that I think about it... Just who is this Simon anyway? I don't even know Simon; do you?

Ash: I know one, but I don't think he is the one who created the game.

Danielle: I don't think anybody names their kids "Simon" these days. And with how bossy he seems to be, it's no wonder. What a tool. I've got a better idea. This time, we're playing "Danielle Says". The rules are all the same, but the game is five times better now. Now are you prepared for this enhanced experience? Let's do it! Stand in the center and Danielle's awesome Danielle Says game will commence!

Game: Turn the south lever to the right. Danielle says turn the rightmost lever to the right. Danielle says turn the left lever to the left. Simon says turn the upper lever to the left. Danielle says turn the lowest lever to the left. Danielle says turn the uppermost lever to the right. Next, turn the left lever back to the center. Then, turn the rightmost lever back to the center too. Danielle says turn the lowest lever back to the center. Danielle says turn the leftmost lever to the right. Simon says turn the downmost lever to the left. Now turn the eastern lever to the center. Danielle says turn the northern lever to the center. Simon says turn the southern lever to the left. Danielle says turn the rightmost lever to the left.

After Serena finishes the game, the door opens for the third time.

Danielle: Oh, you did it! Now that you've learned to listen to me instead of smelly old Nobody McSimonface, I suppose we can let it go. Admittedly the alliteration does work better... No matter! You have business, don't you?

Then they get into the door and capture the Registeel, and after the final one is captured, they are now relieved.

Lillie: Who knows that this game is tiring...

Serena: At least we caught all three of them.

Ash: Actually, there is also a Regigigas, but I don't think he's in here...

Lillie: Maybe he's in another world.

Danielle: That's all of it, isn't it? Legendary Pokémon in a new space dimension, huh... This operation is being run out of DJ Arclight's Nightclub, right? I can put two and two together. Perhaps I'll drop by and see if they need any other help. I suppose I should thank you. After all, this is more interesting than sitting back in the lobby all day. I look forward to picking on you again someday~ (Leaves)

Ash, Serena, and Lillie just look at each other before leaving for Night Club, but they also hear another voice from Lin.

Lin: Simon says, don't forget me.


And this is the Regi Sidequest, and trust me, those Simon Says are really tiring in this game and you have to slow down the game to complete it, or else it is a disaster. I hope you like this chapter and the tier 2 quest only has one more.